There is described an improved system for retaining a video screen in a frame comprising a video screen, a frame for supporting the video screen along at least a portion of the screen's peripheral edges, and a mechanism for biasing the edges of the screen against the frame to hold the screen in position relative to the frame.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for retaining a video screen in a frame, comprising: a video screen having a front, a back and a peripheral edge extending thereabout; frame means for supporting said video screen along at least a portion of said screen's peripheral edge, said peripheral edge including a continuous notch formed therein, said notch extending partially through said screen from the back to the front thereof, said notch being shaped to engage said frame means to locate said screen relative to said frame means; a plurality of spaced apart holes formed in said back of said video screen, said holes extending only partially through said screen from the back to the front thereof and being spaced inwardly of said notch; and means for resiliently biasing said screen against said frame means to hold said frame means in said notch, each biasing means having a first end connectable to said frame means and a second end connectable to said screen, wherein said second end of each said biasing means is connectingly received into a respective one of said holes in said back of said screen.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said frame means comprise frame members for assembly into a screen supporting frame, each frame member having an inner and an outer portion, said outer portion including a substantially planer flange having side surfaces and an outer edge surface, said outer edge surface and the contiguous portion of at least one of said side surfaces being adapted to engage said notch in said screen.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said biasing means includes a tensioning member at said first end thereof for pulling said notch in said screen against said flange of said frame means.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said biasing means additionally includes a length of cord at said second end thereof, said tensioning member and said length of cord being connected together and being disposed between said frame means and a respective one of said hole in said screen for biasing said screen against said frame means.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said tensioning member is a spring.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said cord is light transmitting.
7. The system of claim 4 wherein said cord is adhesively connected to said respective one of said holes in said screen.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said holes is adapted to receive therein an end of a respective one of said cords and adhesive for bonding said end of said cord in said hole to said screen.
9. The system of claim 4 wherein said screen includes a plurality of spaced apart pairs of holes formed through said screen inwardly adjacent said notch, said pairs of holes being adapted for the looping of said cord therethrough.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said screen comprises a plurality of screens layered together, said looping of said cord through said pairs of holes holding said plurality of screens together.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said looping of said cord can be loosened to allow a separation of said layered screens.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein each said frame member is adapted to receive at least partially therethrough connector means that extend from one frame member to a next adjacent frame member to rigidly connect said frame members together and to prevent relative rotation therebetween.
13. A system for retaining a video screen in a frame, comprising: a video screen having a front surface and a rear surface and a peripheral edge extending thereabout, said screen including a plurality of holes formed in said rear surface thereof at spaced apart intervals inwardly adjacent of said peripheral edge, said holes extending only partially through said screen from said rear surface towards said front surface; frame means for supporting said screen along at least a portion of said peripheral edge; and a plurality of biasing means extending between said screen and said frame means for resiliently biasing said peripheral edge of said screen against said frame means, each biasing means having a first end connectable to said frame means and a second end connectable to said screen, wherein said second end of each said biasing means is connectingly received into a respective one of said holes in said rear surface of said screen.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said second end of each said biasing means is adhesively connected into its said respective hole in the rear surface of said screen.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for resiliently biasing include tensioning member for pulling said screen against a contiguous portion of said frame means.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein said biasing means comprise said tensioning member and a length of cord connected thereto.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said tensioning member is a spring.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein an end of said cord opposite the end thereof connected to said tensioning member is received into a respective one of said holes together with adhesive for bonding said cord to said screen.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said peripheral edge of said screen includes a continuous notch formed therein adjacent said rear surface of said screen, said notch extending only partially through said screen from said rear surface towards said front surface, said notch being shaped to engage said frame means to locate said screen in said frame means.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said frame means comprise frame members for assembly into a screen supporting frame, each frame member having an inner and an outer portion, said outer portion including a substantially planer flange having side surfaces and an outer edge surface, said outer edge surface and the contiguous portion of at least one of said surfaces being adapted to engage said notch in said screen.
21. The system of claim 16 wherein said cord is light transmitting.
22. A method of retaining a light transmitting screen in a frame defining an opening for said screen, comprising the steps of: shaping the screen to fit in said frame opening, the screen having a front surface and a rear surface and a peripheral edge corresponding in shape to said frame opening; forming a notch in said peripheral edge extending only partially through said screen from said rear surface towards said front surface thereof, said notch being shaped to engage said frame to locate said screen in said opening; forming a plurality of spaced apart holes in said rear surface of said screen to extend peripherally around said screen inwardly adjacent to said notch; and applying a resilient biasing force between said frame and said screen so that said screen in held in position in said frame opening by biasing said notch against said frame, said biasing force being applied by means of a plurality of tensioning members, each of which is connected at one end thereof to said frame and at an opposite end thereof into a respective one of said holes in said rear surface of said screen.
23. A method of connecting a tensioner between a light transmitting screen and a frame supporting said screen, said tensioner having a first end connectable to the frame and a second end connectable to the screen, the method comprising the steps of: forming a hole in said screen extending only partially therethrough from the back of the screen towards the front thereof; inserting said second end of said tensioner into said hole with adhesive for bonding said second end of said tensioner to said screen; and connecting said first end of said tensioner to said frame whereby said tensioner pulls said screen against said frame.
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December 22, 1999
June 3, 2003
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